Graphing and Analyzing Scientific Data
Graphing is an important procedure used by scientist to display the data that is collected during a controlled
experiment. There are three main types of graphs:
Pie/circle graphs: Used to show parts of a whole.
Bar graphs: Used to compare amounts.
Line graphs: Use to show the change of one piece of information as it relates to another change.
Both bar and line graphs have an “X” axis (horizontal) and a “Y” axis (vertical).
Parts of a Graph:
Title: Summarizes information being represented in ANY graph.
Independent Variable: The variable that is controlled by the experimenter, such as, time, dates,
depth, and temperature. This is placed on the X axis.
Dependent Variable: The variable that is directly affected by the I.V. It is the result of what
happens as time, dates, depth and temperature are changed. This is placed on the Y axis.
Scales for each Variable: In constructing a graph, one needs to know where to plot the points
representing the data. In order to do this a scale must be employed to include all the data points. This
must also take up a conservative amount of space. It is not suggested to have a run on scale making the
graph too hard to manage. The scales should start with 0 and climb in intervals such as, multiples of 2,
5, 10, 20, 25, etc…the scale of numbers will be determined by your data values.
Legend: A short descriptive narrative concerning the graph’s data. It should be short and concise
and placed under the graph.
For any set of data, you will need to determine the following:
Mean: This is determined by adding all the numbers in a set of data and then dividing by the
number of values.
Median*: This is the middle number in a set of data. If the there is an even set of numbers in the
data, then take the average of the two middle numbers.
Ex: 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 median = 8
Ex: 3, 5, 8, 11, 17, 19, 27, 30 median is 11 + 17 = 28/2 = 14
Mode*: This is the number that occurs most often in a set of data.
Ex: 3, 4, 6, 6, 7, 9,9,9, 12, 12, 15 mode = 9
* To determine median and mode, the numbers in the set of data must be put in numerical order.
Extrapolate: extending the graph, along the same slope, above or below measured data.
Interpolate: predicting data between two measured points on the graph
Graph Worksheet
Graphing & Intro to Science
Name:
A. Graph the following information in a BAR graph. Label and number the x and y-axis appropriately.
Month
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
# of deer
38
32
26
20
15
12
1. What is the independent variable?
2. What is the dependent variable?
3. What is an appropriate title?
4. What is the average number of deer per month?
B. Graph the following information in a LINE graph. Label and number the x and y-axis appropriately.
# of Days
1
2
3
4
5
6
# of
Bacteria
4
16
40
80
100
200
1. What is the independent variable?
2. What is the dependent variable?
3. What is an appropriate title?
C. Graph the following information in a BAR graph. Label and number the x and y-axis appropriately.
# of Hours
of Study
0
2
4
6
8
10
Grade
20
60
70
80
90
100
1. What is the independent variable?
2. What is the dependent variable?
3. What is an appropriate title?
4. What was the average grade earned?
D. Graph the following information in a LINE graph. Label and number the x and y-axis appropriately.
Temperature
0
20
30
40
50
60
70
Enzyme
Activity
0
10
15
20
8
5
0
1. What is the independent variable?
2. What is the dependent variable?
3. What is an appropriate title?